September 19, 2005

Have faith in God –
Without a doubt or fear;
Have faith in God –
His love is ever near;
Have faith in God –
In this accepted year.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

My Plea

Words and Music by J. L. Baker, c. 20th Century

    A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Mark 2:1-5.

    This beautiful hymn of the faith has become a favorite of many. It shows in its simple phraseology the total dependence we as Christians have on Christ. So often when we think of heaven, we think of the place rather than the Person Who makes it just that, true Heaven! The Saviour is the only way we can gain access to heaven, not our works, our possessions. Only Jesus.
    The words to My Plea were written some time in the 1900's, but the hymnal in which is was printed, The Sword of the Lord's "Soul-Stirring Songs & Hymns," does not even know the author's full name. I hope that this song speaks to your heart as this anonymous person gives us beautiful words with which to praise our Redeemer!

Should I at the gates of heaven appear
To answer the challenge “What claim hast thou here?
What hast thou to offer, yea, what is thy plea?”
With blessed assurance my answer would be:
“All that I have is Jesus! All that I claim is Jesus!
All that I want, all that I need, all that I plead is Jesus!”

Of all earthly treasures nothing I’ve brought,
No great deeds of merit have I ever wrought.
Tho’ vile and unworthy as mortal could be,
I’ve nothing to offer but this is my plea:
“All that I have is Jesus! All that I claim is Jesus!
All that I want, all that I need, all that I plead is Jesus!”

My sins, they are many; my virtues are few.
The blood of my Saviour will carry me through!
When Christ in my place died on Calvary’s tree,
Hallelujah! That opened God’s heaven to me!
“All that I have is Jesus! All that I claim is Jesus!
All that I want, all that I need, all that I plead is Jesus!”

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission